Puree all ingredients except 1 diced cucumber in blender till smooth. May add additional water at end to thin slightly. Stir in diced cucumber stirring after transferring to bowl. Add some mint leaves for taste and garnish.

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Magnesium has the ability to relax your muscles and nerves. Ever get a leg cramp, eye twitch, racing heart, constipation or insomnia? You are probably missing magnesium.

What does magnesium do? It aids in regulating muscle and nerve function, levels out our blood sugar and pressure, makes protein and builds strong bones.

This super mineral found in green leafy vegetables, dark chocolate, flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, dried herbs, beans and lentils, brown rice, avocados, almonds, yogurt and bananas (to list a few) contains this super mineral that seems to cure most of the population’s chronic ailments. See chart below for a list of the top 46 out of almost 100 symptoms.

According to Dr. Carolyn Dean, 80% of the US population is magnesium deficient. With that statistic, I would say most of us are walking around missing this crucial mineral. Even if we eat most of the foods listed above and if the farmers don’t add magnesium to their soil these foods themselves are deficient, leading us to use an over-the-counter supplement to ensure we are getting the correct amount daily.

WHAT IS MAGNESIUM GOOD FOR AND WHAT ARE THE DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS?

Below is a list of forty-six conditions that you may experience if you are low on magnesium:

Acid reflux

Adrenal fatigue

Alzheimer’s disease

Anger

Angina

Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Arthritis

Asthma

Atherosclerosis with calcium deposits.

Blood Clots

Bowel issue or disease

Brain dysfunction

Cold extremities

Cholesterol elevation

Confusion

Cystitis

Depression

Detoxification

Diabetes

Fatigue

Fibromyalgia

Food cravings (sweet, salt, carbs)

Headaches

Heart disease

Hypertension

Hypoglycemia

Indigestion

Inflammation

Insomnia

Irritable bowel syndrome

Kidney disease

Kidney stones

Migraines

Muscle cramps or spasm

Muscle twitching or weakness

Musculoskeletal conditions

Nerve problems

Obstetrical and gynecological problems

Osteoporosis

Parkinson’s disease

Paranoia

Raynaud’s syndrome

Restlessness

Shortness of breath

Sports injuries

Tooth Decay

Source: Dean, The Magnesium Miracle, 3rd ed. (2014)

What type of magnesium should you take? There are many types of magnesium and they all work, but the top two that provide the highest amount of absorption are Magnesium Glycinate which is best for those trying to correct their deficiency. The other is Magnesium oxide or citrate. These have a 60% absorption and a stool softening property. If you take too much of any magnesium your body has the ability to ride it, usually causing diarrhea and not allowing you to overdose on it.

How much is the correct daily dose? This answer varies on how deficient you are, how active you are, if you are on any medication and your current diet. As a rule, a male or female 19 year or older should start with 400 mg daily. If you don’t have any immediate effects, like sleeping better or less leg cramps – up your dose to 600 mg daily and so on. Some people take as much at 1200 mg daily. You will know if you have taken too much… if it causes diarrhea.

When should you take it? Again, this depends on how you tolerate it. Before bed is always a good time to start because, as mentioned, it relaxes you and helps for a better night’s sleep. You can also take it in a powder form (known as CALM) and sip on it throughout the day or take a shot at night. If you find you like 2-3 doses spread throughout the day – that also works.

Our bodies have a system called ATP. This is how we create energy. ATP has a cycle known as the KREB cycle. Magnesium is responsible for 6 of the 9 steps in this system. If knowing that small piece of info doesn’t make you question how important magnesium is for us – I’m not sure what will… except maybe giving it a try and seeing how much better you will feel overall.